As of today.........my 36th birthday.........I weigh exactly 280 pounds, according to the shipping scale at work, which has to be accurate because of international transit guidelines.

If you guys will be kind and understanding.........this will really help me, as I am planning on documenting my quest to lose 130 pounds.

This will be no small undertaking as I am literally cutting myself in half! I will be half the person I once was.

I am 5' 6", and I feel that 150 is a healthy weight to achieve.

So far, for about a month, I have been eating a low sugar, low carb diet mostly comprised of fruit, yogurt, veggies, hard cheeses, lean meats and whole grains. I am drinking mostly water and sugarless tea, but with a 20 oz. diet pop a day being my only treat. I intend to continue this way, unless I start to see negative results.

Also, I am working at a warehouse where I am continuously lifting up to 45 pounds all day long. For somebody who is rather out of shape, this is quite an accomplishment, as I have now been at this job for a little over 3 months. At first, I could hardly do the job and now I'm one of the top packers!

There is no A/C there and I have a history of asthma and allergies but I'm doing ok. I haven't had problems with asthma or allergies for some time now.

I also have type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and have been having heart palpitations, but my heart was checked recently to be fine.

So there you have it. Let this be the first day of the rest of my life, as far as you guys are concerned.

I'm looking at yet another fat summer, sadly. It's not just sad because of the embarrassment of my image, but because neither my house nor my car has air conditioning.

I have already explored the possibilities of bariatric surgery and the Atkins Diet with my doctor, and she disapproves of both.

So here goes nothing.......

I'm very happy when I hear people make this step.

The first step is always the hardest.

I'm glad you came here. There are some of us (to one extent or the other) who've wrestled/wrestle with food.

It's a marathon - and a lifestyle - not a sprint.

Quote:

I also have type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and have been having heart palpitations, but my heart was checked recently to be fine.

I'm sure you know or have been told but much/most/perhaps all of this will alleviate with your projected weight loss.

Please keep bringing your progress here. Some of us have been doing so and it really helps.

One thing I've had to come to grips with is what a serving size is. We Americans have this horribly skewed.

Don't let any losers mock your efforts. It isn't easy, but at work I'm forever eating alone or my own thing because what the others are doing just doesn't jibe.

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Hey kid!

Good luck with your goals. This is something to keep in mind and it may help. I am a powerlifter as you may know. What really matters to me is how much I can lift. The one thing I noticed is that when I was lifting weights just to be lifting them I never got anywhere. Once I set a goal(for me it was a meet date) I really made progress. I think a very good step for you was to put a number on it. You can quantify your results an it will help.

A few things to watch for.
1. If you are using a low carb diet you need to remember that fruit sugars are carbs.

2. The harder the cheese the higher the fat content is what I heard. High fat high protein is what you're after in a low carb diet.

3. You may actually gain a little weight initially once your body realizes what you're doing to it. IT WON'T BE HAPPY!!

4. I think we may be able to set something up where we could meet up sometime. It would have to be a little later this summer as my kids are in baseball right now.

Well I've heard that the harder the cheese the less fat it has..... I'll have to ask my doctor.

Also I'm a diabetic and we HAVE to have fruit.

I'm not necessarily on a low carb diet. I'm on a low sugar diet though, but it's the diabetic diet so the fruit is all good.

In fact my doctor has my mom doing something where she eats nothing BUT fruit for two days in a row, then goes back to eating normal for the rest of the week and she is losing 2 1/2 to 3 pounds a week and keeping it off! I've tried this and can't do it, sorry. LOL

Also I'm gonna do a video blog of this and will give you all the link when I get it made.

I got the first video blog done but haven't posted it yet.

When I do I'll post it on here for you guys.

Also I'm frustrated today because I ran out of my meds for a couple of days coupled with John wanting to stop at Wendy's for frosty's and bam - instant psycho case, cried all the way home.

Cried all day pretty much - major emotional problems today, I think my sugar is way up. Haven't even had the presence of mind to test my sugar. Frustrated with life.

Sick of 2nd shift. Feel isolated.

So yeah.

Hang in there, Tonya. You knew this wouldn't be easy. Just think how rewarding it will be when you reach your goal.

Hey, by the way, I just checked out your website and I never knew your husband was in Jacob's Dream. I love their stuff!

my best friend was about 5'4" and close to 240 pounds. she also suffered from diabetes and sleep apnea.

in January she had gastric bypass surgery and to date, has lost 61 pounds.

i dont know what the requirements are to qualify for this surgery, but i would have liked for her to try a more traditional approach first, considering i've heard of some really unsettling side effects to the surgery.

kudos to you for buckling down and taking the tougher, but healthier route first.

I've been going through a very similar thing, Tonya. I started out at 5 foot 4.5 inches and 260 pounds. I'm down to 231.6 now. It gets frustrating at times (3 weeks and only 1 pound lost) but keep plugging away and it will work. Keep up the good work.

I missed this until now but I want to say, keep at it. And like Jim said, set small measureable goals and it will be easier to maintain. Also, an accountability partner will help and be someone to cry on their shoulder. As for the second shift thing, done that and it really sucks.

Tonya, How are things going? See, when you posted this here you kind of locked yourself in. I WILL BE CHECKING UP ON YOU!!!

Wow. I just realized how creepy that was. I didn't mean it in a stalker sort of way.LOL.

No it's cool dude.

I haven't been on here in a while.

To date since my first post I have only lost a pound.

I cut out all starches and sugar and I walk daily, and I've only lost a pound. Today, I took my first insulin injection. I'm scared, frustrated and angry. I have FOUGHT this battle, you guys, you have to believe me. I worked since February in a warehouse lifting up to 45 pounds continuously, all day long, packing salads and yogurt for lunch and walking daily - and nothing.

Lately I've been practically starving myself and still walking.

Only one pound in almost seven months.

So now that I'm on insulin we'll see how the next five months go.

Only 134 more pounds to go....

OK. Don't lose hope! For one thing you need to find what works. I have a few thoughts but I'm strapped for time right now. I will check in later and we can get to work.

Hang in and see what the insulin does. Give it time but don't give up. Do you have a nutritionist that can help with the diabetes?

Here are a few thoughts...
1. Black Rider's post to wait and see what the insulin does is a good idea. You need to get everything working the way it is suppossed to before you can make lifestyle changes.

2. Don't make a big deal about this. Getting stressed out will most likely only cause you to hopld on to the weight.

3. Working in a warehouse lifting 45 lbs continuously doesn't count. Think of it this way. I work in a machine shop. I am a powerlifter. If I sutracted the weight of every part I picked up from my workout pundages do you think I would get any stronger?

4. You need to "train" not "workout" or "exercise". Think of it this way...do you think going for a walk around the block is "exercise"? Sure it is. And it will burn a few calories. Do you think that same walk is "training"? Nope. But if you turn up the intensity in some way it would be and it would be more effective.

5. Do you have a Curves near you? I'm no expert on them but everyone I know who goes there loves it. And they appear to be effective.

I think you should get the insuline thing levelled out so your ready to take this on with a healthy body. Once your bloog sugar levels are in good shape and you learn how to keep them where they should be you will be better able to diet and exercise effectively.

Keep up the good work sister!!! Keep eatin that FEESH!

Well I'm not doing so good now. Some of you know and some don't, that I lost my job in November and haven't been able to find anything since then at least nothing full time. I'm trying to get motivated to start walking but it's hard because it's so cold out. It didn't help that I made Ghirardhelli brownies today either.